In Conversation: Newman is Reincarnated with New Release on Tale and Tone

Lee Burridge and Hoj’s story continues to expand as they mark their 5th release on their new imprint Tale and Tone with a fresh two-track package from Newman. As the name suggests, Newman is the new alias of a well-established artist’s reincarnation in the music scene. His story exemplifies the power of music’s ability to rejuvenate the soul. Find out a bit more about Newman and his world-inspired EP for Tale and Tone.

This is the first release under your new alias, what inspired the name change?

After being in the professional DJ business for 20 years, I wanted to reinvent myself. Focus my sound and my music with a much more defined and personal approach. This change has been 4 years in the making, it’s a reflection of a new start in my life, not only musically but also mentally and psychologically. I am finally emerging from a rough patch and now feel reinvigorated emotionally and artistically. I literally feel like a new person, hence the name Newman.

How did you get involved with Lee and Hoj?

I rediscovered Lee (from his Tyrant days) when I moved back to New York from Miami 4 years ago. I went to All Day I Dream in Brooklyn and connected instantly with the emotions in his music, as they were the same emotions I wanted to express in my music. It was a perfect fit. After I had done “the sky and the Earth”, I sent to him, he loved it and thus started our relationship. I met Hoj this past summer at All Day I Dream here in New York.

Loving the vocals and percussive work in both of these tunes. What inspired you towards a more mysterious / ethnic direction of music?

I always loved world music, and always mixed those elements in my dj sets throughout the years. You always hear about dj’s taking you on a journey and that was certainly my approach growing up in New York, playing 6 hour dj sets minimum. What a better way to send the crowd around the world than by using musical elements from everywhere.

What gear do you use in your studio?

It’s a very minimal setup. When I moved back to New York I sold all my analog gear and downgraded to a laptop, a midi controller and a good pair of headphones, to match New York city’s space and noise constraints.

Do you have a production ritual? If so, what is it?

I think of an idea first. It comes to me at the most random moment, hearing a sound on the streets, while watching a movie, riding my bike, sometimes listening to other genres of music… I rarely get to the computer without having a direction which could be a concept, a sample or a particular emotion i want to explore. Then the track takes a life of its own, sometimes it ends up being completely different than what i had previously envisioned.

Who are some of your biggest musical inspirations? From dance music? From all music?

No one in particular, at least no one that I can identify. My music is of course a reflection and an extension of my musical education but my musical tastes are so varied that I never caught onto one artist or one genre of music for too long. My insatiable thirst for something new has me looking everywhere.

What is your all time favorite track?

I don’t have one. I have many tracks and songs I love which touch me everytime i hear them. But for the same reasons I listed above I never get stuck on one song. One song might be a favorite because of the groove which gets my feet moving everytime, or makes me cry because of its the emotional intensity, or because It was incredibly produced…